- Title: ITALY: FANS BEGIN TO ARRIVE FOR " LIVE 8" CONCERT IN ROME
- Date: 2nd July 2005
- Summary: ROME, ITALY (JULY 2, 2005) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. WIDE OF CIRCO MASSIMO 0.05 2. WIDE OF STAGE 0.07 3. WIDE OF LIVE 8 ROMA SIGN 0.11 4. SLV FANS PUTTING BLANKETS ON GROUND 0.16 5. SLV FANS SITTING ON GROUND 0.19 6. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) YOUNG MAN: "It would be right if he was here but there are more singers who can do a really good show" 0.30 7. WIDE OF FANS SITTING ON BANK/ PAN TO STADIUM 0.34 8. SLV FANS SITTING ON BANK 0.40 9. VARIOUS OF FANS WATCHING STAGE PREPARATIONS 0.45 10. SMV (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) YOUNG WOMAN: "We are here to support this initiative and also for the singers (Question: Are you hoping there will be lots of people) I hope so, that why we got here so early, to get a good view" 1,05 11. WIDE OF PEOPLE IN FRONT OF STAGE 1.09 12. SLV GIRLS LYING ON GROUND 1.13 13. WIDE OF PEOPLE ON HILL 1.15 14. WIDE OF CIRCO MASSIMO WITH FANS 1.19 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 17th July 2005 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: ROME, ITALY
- Country: Italy
- Reuters ID: LVA74EH6J5CWDGYJMS4UML7PBGF4
- Story Text: Fans begin to arrive at Rome's Circo Massimo for
Live 8 concert.
Several hundred, mainly young, people began
arriving at Circo Massimo early on Saturday (July 2)
morning to get good positions for Rome's Live 8 concert.
Many of Italy's biggest pop stars have shaken off their
initial scepticism about Live 8 and agreed to perform on
the Rome stage of the international anti-poverty rock
extravaganza later on Saturday.
Bob Geldof, who publicly chided Italian stars for their
reluctance to appear, has even persuaded Zucchero, one of
the few Italians to have a Top 10 hit in Britain, to
perform in Rome as well as Paris where he was first
scheduled to play.
By playing at Rome's Circo Massimo and then flying to
the Paris gig at Versailles, Zucchero will be doing a
mini-version of Phil Collins' feat when he flew Concorde to
play both the London and Philadelphia shows of the original
Live Aid in 1985.
Zucchero's no-frills jet-setting is not a publicity
stunt, rather an attempt by Geldof to beef up the bill in
Rome where many local stars had been reluctant to play,
fearing being outshone by the higher-profile events
elsewhere.
While the Live 8 concert in London is receiving massive
media attention, the Italy gig has barely been mentioned on
TV and many Romans have no idea why the big stage and
lighting rigs are being erected in the ancient chariot
racing track.
Britain's 1980s popsters Duran Duran and U.S. country
star Faith Hill will represent the English-speaking world,
but most of the acts are home-grown.
Whereas many British and American superstars jumped at
the chance to appear in what Geldof touted as an
epoch-defining moment for pop, Italian stars have been
harder to convince.
Vasco Rossi, who like Zucchero has a gravelly rock
voice and massive box-office appeal in Italy, pulled out
and has so far ignored Geldof's pleas to return.
Fans, however, were dubious that his non-attendance
would have any effect on he success of the event.
"It would be right if he was here but there are more singers who
can do a really good show," said one young man
at Circo Massimo on Saturday.
Zucchero -- "Sugar" in Italian, his real name is Adelmo
Fornaciari -- hit the British charts in 1991 with a partly
translated version of his song "Senza una Donna", duetting
with Paul Young.
He has also performed and recorded with Eric Clapton,
Sting, Miles Davis and John Lee Hooker and last year filled
London's Albert Hall duetting with a roster of
international stars.
Zucchero has blamed Italian politicians for Live 8's
low profile, saying they have kept very quiet about the
event, compared with British Prime Minister Tony Blair for
example who has been meeting frequently with journalists
and artists.
But people questioned on Saturday morning seemed to
think the event would be well attended anyway.
"We're here to support this initiative and also for the
singers," said one young woman, adding they had got there
early as they expected a lot of people.
Bob Geldof is hoping the publicity will persuade the G8
club of rich nations to take action to help the poor at its
meeting in Scotland on July 6-8.
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